US revamps travel warning system; SL is okay

The United States revamped its warnings about the risks of traveling to other countries and Sri Lanka is listed among countries that the lowest advisory level for safety and security risks in the new four-point safety ranking system.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka is listed as a Level-1 country which means ‘Exercise normal precautions when traveling to Sri Lanka’.

However, neighbouring India and Maldives were listed as Level-2, ‘Exercise increased caution.’ 
For India, it states, “Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk”, while for Maldivesits, “Exercise increased caution in Maldives due to terrorism.”

Among the other countries in Level-1: “Exercise normal precautions” are Australia, Singapore, Brunei, Sweden and Switzerland.Level-1 is the lowest advisory level.

The United States unveiled the new system on Wednesday (Jan 10), along with an interactive world map to warn its citizens about the dangers of foreign travel.

AFP reports that some countries have complained in the past that the travel warnings exaggerate dangers and damage tourism, or suspect they have been subjected to a US diplomatic rebuke.

Ten war zones and failed states are ranked Level Four, "Do Not Travel": Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

North Korea is also Level Four, with the additional restriction that US law prohibits American travelers from using their passports there, effectively banning visits.

(Daily Mirror)